Fundamental attribution error

What is fundamental attribution error? (FAE)

When observing someone’s actions we quickly jump to conclusions about their character (dispositional factors) rather than consider potential external reasons (situation).

It is a cognitive bias.

Cognitive effort

One reason for FAE is that it takes less effort to attribute an action to a personality trait (they are selfish) than it does to account the situation (they might of been in a rush for an emergency)

Our brains often take a cognitive shortcut (Heuristic)

Automatic vs deliberate processing

Categorizing behavior and making a dispositional judgement happens automatically in our brains.

Applying a situational correction is a deliberate, energy-intensive third step which many people often skip especially if they are distracted or low on cognitive resources (due to stress, fatigue)

Highly diagnostic behavior

We are most prone to FAE when we see behavior that is very indicative of a personality trait, especially immoral behavior.

For example, if people see people steal we often jump to the conclusion that they are an immoral person rather than consider their situation (e.g. Poverty)

Mood’s effect on FAE?

Being in a good mood can make us more likely to commit FAE because it leads to a less systematic and careless approach, leading to such cognitive shortcuts.

What are the 4 effects of FAE?

• Individual effects

• Systematic effects

• Racial bias

• Product perception

What are the individual effects?

Unfair, inaccurate judgements about others are made, negatively affecting relationships because we don’t give them the benefit of the doubt.

What are the systematic effects?

It can be a barrier to fixing situational factors that cause an action because if we only link a behavior to a personality trait, ignoring the situation (systematic factors) they may be facing (e.g. poverty or discrimination), then these issues are not sorted out when they must be.

Racial Bias

Research shows that people with lower attributional complexity (prefer simple explanations and are less aware of situational factors) are more prone to FAE and more likely have have racist beliefs (or other prejudices).

Product perception

In the market, people usually blame faulty products on poor design (dispositional) instead of situational factors like server errors.

What are 2 biases that are similar but must not be confused with FAE?

Actor-Observer bias and Correspondence bias

What is Actor-Observer bias?

Attributing others behavior to dispositional factors but our own to situational factors.

Correspondence bias

Inferring stable, unchanging personality traits from observed behavior.

Example of FAE

Believing a reckless driver is a bad person rather than thinking there could be an emergency.

Example of Actor-observer bias

Blaming a coworker’s poor presentation on their anxiety but your poor presentation on a lack of sleep.

Example of correspondence bias

A nervous presenter but be an anxious person in general (the inference)

FAE is the process of ignoring the massive audience as well.

How to counter FAE?

1) Practice empathy- deliberately put yourself in other people’s shoes and consider what situational factors may be affecting behavior

2) Build emotional intelligence- Increase self-awareness and self-regulation to make more considered judgements

3) Focus on positives- when upset by someone’s negative action, remind yourself of their overall good qualities to avoid defining them by the mistake.